Posted: 21 Feb 2012 07:21 AM PST

Tip Tuesday features writers’ tips on craft, research, querying, blogging, marketing, inspiration, and more. If you’d like to send in a tip, please e-mail me at agentspotlight(at)gmail(dot)com.

I have another fantastic tip from Ryann Kerekes today. I posted one from her a couple weeks ago (Tip #116) and she also sent in Tip #101. Ryann blogs at Novel Addiction where she last posted on what makes a writer succeed. While poking around her blog, I also noticed she’s now represented. Congrats, Ryann!! After you read her tip below, hop over and check out her latest posts.

How to Plot – free writing course!

Can’t afford to attend a conference? Check out the free video tutorial series, How to Plot a Novel, Screenplay or Memoir by the Plot Whisperer, Martha Alderson.

I watched all 27 videos (they’re short, around 6-8 minutes each) and highly recommend them.

A few things I’m working on this week:

- Defining my characters and their short term and long term goals.

- Giving my character a flaw that’s going to work against them achieving their goals.

~Ryann Kerekes

1. Literary Rambles: http://caseylmccormick.blogspot.com/

2. Mary Kole’s sight for all things in Children’s Literature, including how to edit and rewrite before submitting: http://kidlit.com/

3. Absolute Write Water Cooler: Agents accepting unsolicited YA: http://www.absolutewrite.com

4. Rachel Gardner, Literary Agent: http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/

5. Pub Rants, Kristen Nelson, Literary Agent: http://pubrants.blogspot.com/

Let me know if you’ve come across any other valuable sites for writers in search of a Literary Agent.

The third reason it was a great visit is because where else but an art museum provides peace, quiet, and contemplation along with some magnificent objects of beauty? Being in such an environment frees the mind and allows all sorts of creative energy to enter. Writers who are struggling with writer’s block might find all sorts of inspiration looking at any painting or sculpture, and stories begin to spring into mind. WHY did the artist choose such a subject? WHAT IF the subject were alive today? WHAT would she/he have to say?  The possibilities for story are endless.

So, if you feel as if you’re in a rut and need some change to jump start the muse, visit the Princeton University Art Museum – or ANY art museum and let your imagination run wild. Take notes, snap photos and just doodle in a notebook. You never know, it may be the start of something wonderful. artmuseum.princeton.edu

 You need:  Rice Cakes, butter knife for spreading, Peanut or almond butter, cream cheese, food items for making the faces. Here are some suggestions: Eyes and nose: Cheerios, raisins, dried cherries, mini marshmallows. Mouth:  Peanuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, apple slices.  Hair: Shredded carrots or coconut.

1.  Spread rice cake with your topping of choice. This will be the “glue” that holds the facial features. Use whatever foods you like to decorate your rice cake.

2.  Eat and enjoy!

Variation:  To make Pizza Faces, use English muffins spread with tomato sauce and cheese. Then add olives, pepperoni, pepper slices, mushrooms or whatever desired garnishes. Sprinkle extra shredded cheese for hair and bake in a 350 degree oven until cheese melts. (Ask an adult to help with the baking and use of the oven).

There’s absolutely NO reason why food shouldn’t be fun! Let me know what you think. I’d love to see photos of your rice cake creations. I’ll even post some of them on this sight. Happy Eating!

Try some different table activities to while away the time. Color, draw, and make silly “creatures” out of paper, Popsicle sticks and whatever scraps are available. Put On A Show, using these creations as puppets.  Or, let the stuffed toys become puppets in a show. Sing, dance and tell silly jokes, just like they did in the days of Vaudeville.

Make Your Own Play Dough: Here are two variations – one of which is edible!

PLAY DOUGH – Let your child help measure and mix: 1 C flour, 1 C water, 1 T. veg. oil, ½ C salt, 1 tsp. Cream of Tartar, food coloring.

- Cook over med. Heat until mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and looks like dough.

- Knead until cool. Store in airtight container.

Or try this recipe for Edible Peanut Butter Play Dough

-1 18-oz. jar creamy peanut butter, 6 table spoons of honey, 3/4 cup non-fat dry milk.

- Mix all the ingredients together, using varying amounts of dry milk for desired consistency. Kids also like to add other foods like M&M’s, raisins, or peanuts for facial features, etc.

- From Crysteannah R.Carpenter, age 9, Cincinnati, Ohio

You can get more ideas for rainy day edibles from this awesome website: http://www.makeplaydough.com

ENJOY AND HAPPY RAINY DAY!

I have been reading some terrific YA and MG books these last few months and wanted to pass them along. Some are classics, others new. Here goes: 1.THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURNIA TATE by Jacqueline Kelly is an historical MG set at the turn of the 20th century. 2. KIRA KIRA BY Cynthia Kadohata takes place during post WWII when Japanese Americans are still struggling to find acceptance in their own country. 3. LIFE OF PI by Yann Martell. This is an adult book that was written a few years ago, but I think a YA audience would also enjoy it. The humor and voice of it is unlike anything I’ve read recently. If you liked WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, I think you’d like this story. 4. MOON OVER MANIFEST by Clare Vanderpool won the 2010 Newbery Medal and rightly so. It is a wonderful historical novel about a young girl named Abilene sent to live with relatives in 1936 Kansas. 5. THE BOY FROM THE BASEMENT by Susan Shaw tells the story of a 12 year old boy held captive in the basement by his father. It is NOT a depressing tale, rather one of hope, humor and life-affirmation.

I hope you enjoy these treasures.

2. 8th Grade Super Zero- Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovitch ( this is a Middle Grade novel perfect for your “tween” child. www.olugbemisola.com

3. Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? -Audrey Vernick (This picture book will delight young and old as it answers the question of what to expect in Kindergarten) www.audreyvernick.com

4. Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand (The true, and inspiring story of 1936 Olympic Runner Louis Zamperini who never got to break the 4 minute mile because of WWII. His war experiences as a gunner and POW survivor are unbelievable reading). www.unbroken – book.com

5. The Room  –  Emma Donoghue  (This is told from the POV of a 4 year old boy and is a suspenseful , touching story.)

To celebrate Valentine’s Day and share a homemade treat with loved ones, your children can make these easy, delicious, chocolate treats.

Ingredients:   I bag of pretzel rods, chocolate morsels, chopped nuts, sprinkles, coconut or whatever toppings you prefer, waxed paper.

Note: (An adult needs to be on hand to monitor use of the microwave for melting the chocolate morsels.)

1. Place morsels in a microwave-safe dish. Cook on high for 1-2 minutes. Remove and stir. If morsels need more melting, return them the microwave for 30 second intervals until they are melted.
2. Dip one end of the pretzel rod into the melted chocolate until about 1/3 of it is covered. Place on the waxed paper covered cookie sheet.
3. Then sprinkle your topping onto the chocolate covered section.
4. Allow them to harden before wrapping into plastic bags to give as gifts. (For a quicker set time: Pop the logs into the refrigerator for an hour.)

FYI: Not only does chocolate taste great, it actually is good for us. Swiss researchers have found that the polyphenols in dark chocolate curb the body’s output of stress hormones. This helps prevent high blood pressure, racing heart rate, and shallow breathing that can lead to anxiety. Regular consumption of cocoa can also improve physical endurance by 50% due to compounds in it that encourage cell’s ability to convert glucose to energy. Dark chocolate IN SMALL QUANTITIES works best.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

Teachers and parents will find crafts, recipes and activities using a multi-sensory approach for children of all ages. As a Speech Therapist, I used many of the activities in my therapy sessions to stimulate language, creativity and imagination. Most can be completed using everyday materials found around the house. Directions are clear and simple and allow children to complete the activity with some degree of independence. I’ll try to include photos of the finished product as a guide when needed. (When adult supervision is required, I will mention that up front to ensure the safety of all.)

While the crafts and activities are fun for children of all ages, they work very well with students who have special needs. The activities encourage the use of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell and many follow the core curriculum standards for Science, Social Studies, Math and Language Arts. Most importantly, however, They’re fun!

I welcome feedback. Please let me know which activities are most appealing to you and your child. And, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Remember: “It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.”